Aggressive Roo

[azygous]

Thanks for your advice. I know what most people would do but I just can’t. If it gets any worse, my decision to keep him could change. I just have a soft spot for him. I don’t know anything about his history other than I’m his fourth home (first red flag). I purchased him back in March from a breeder in Florida who didn’t know much about him either since she got him from someone else (who got him from someone else). I really want to give him some time and work with him since I haven’t even had him for a year. The hens love him and he’s great with baby chicks. I just can’t give up on him quite yet.

If you start a thread of your own on this subject, people here can walk your through the process of rehabilitating your rooster and you'll get a lot of support to keep you going.

I had such advice and support from a rooster specialist on this site some ten years ago when I had a Brahma roo that would drill my flesh with his beak every time I would get near him. After a year of hard work, he turned out to be one of the best behaved roosters I've ever had.

 

[Sally PB]

I had such advice and support from a rooster specialist on this site some ten years ago when I had a Brahma roo that would drill my flesh with his beak every time I would get near him. After a year of hard work, he turned out to be one of the best behaved roosters I've ever had.

Oh, my, can you share what you did? Is there a thread you can reference?

 

[azygous]

Oh, my, can you share what you did? Is there a thread you can reference?

Click on the title of this forum "Chicken Behaviors and Egg laying", then click on "Post a Thread" and start your own thread. I and others experienced with training roosters will give you all of our experience and advice and support.

 

[WindingRoad]

I have an aggressive rooster as well (my first one). He spurs me and bites me if I touch his hens. As long as I respect his flock, he respects me. Unfortunately sometimes I have to handle the hens and he gets pretty irate. I try to handle him as much as I can but his behavior doesn’t seem to change. Some would send him to freezer camp but that’s out of the question for me. He is the most beautiful rooster ive ever seen and in my opinion worth keeping so long as he doesn’t seriously injure somebody. He is simply doing his job protecting the flock and needs to learn that I’m not a threat. I’m not sure that’ll ever happen but I hold out hope someday it will.

And what will you do when he does hurt someone? I saw a little 3 year old girl get severely beaten up by a rooster. I was only 10 years old. I didn't know what to do. He got her face very badly. When we got him off her you couldn't see her face there was so much blood. Get rid of him.

 

[Folly's place]

There are good articles here, written by @Beekissed , @BantyChooks , and @Shadrach , all worth reading. Probably others too, these are the ones that come to mind first, from experienced flock owners.
Many of us started with first cockerels or roosters who were beautiful, and also miserable attack birds. We tolerate these behaviors, make excuses, and try to keep from getting injured, for way too long. Then, hopefully before a child or visitor is really hurt, we give up and eliminate the SOB.
Then raising cockerels, done best with more experience, and adult hens, at least, to humble them a bit. Then we try to reform a bad adolescent cockerel, by following all the different advice offered here, and elsewhere. Once in a great while something might work. Usually, the offending bird gets smarter about who to attack, and how to go about it.
While the human aggressive rooster is stalking and attacking the giants who bring him food every day, he's not taking care of his flockmates, or looking out for actual dangers to them.
And, he may well pass on his behavioral tendencies to at least some of his offspring.
Polite roosters are wonderful, and the other kind, not so much.
Mary

 

[Matilda Belle]

And what will you do when he does hurt someone? I saw a little 3 year old girl get severely beaten up by a rooster. I was only 10 years old. I didn't know what to do. He got her face very badly. When we got him off her you couldn't see her face there was so much blood. Get rid of him.

My chickens have no access to children or the general public. They are in an enclosed run and I am the only one that tends to them. I would never put anyone at risk like that.

 

[Folly's place]

Our first cock bird, a little bantam, would fly up to adult eyeball level to attack, every day! I'd carry a weapon to keep him from making contact with me, every time I was out with the chickens. Not fun! And catching him in mid-flight? I'm not that coordinated, and mostly failed. DH managed to do it a couple of times, but didn't eliminate the problem then either.
We learned!
Over time, we also got a lot better at recognizing early signs of bad cockerel behavior, something that takes experience. By the time the bird is flying at you, he's shown plenty of earlier warnings.
Mary

 

[honeynajar]

Some males are just mean. How old are they? Some can be retrained, but personally I would just cull him

6 months

 

[honeynajar]

I would say at this point that he is going to continue this behavior and get worse. Male chickens are either amazing or not.

you can always get gloves on and make sure you have a sweatshirt jeans and everything... grab him and hold him. It basically embarrasses him in front of the flock and puts him in his place. Hold him for a long time and see if he calms down. Walk around with him and just show him you are the boss

if he continues this behavior, you can always isolate him for a few days away from the flock to change his status in the pecking order. Then re-introduce them after a few days.

If all else fails rehome him

It sounds like he is becoming hormonal (my roosters are breeding with my girls again it’s that time of year) and protective over the flock.

I will definitely try that! thank you!

 

[honeynajar]

I have an aggressive rooster as well (my first one). He spurs me and bites me if I touch his hens. As long as I respect his flock, he respects me. Unfortunately sometimes I have to handle the hens and he gets pretty irate. I try to handle him as much as I can but his behavior doesn’t seem to change. Some would send him to freezer camp but that’s out of the question for me. He is the most beautiful rooster ive ever seen and in my opinion worth keeping so long as he doesn’t seriously injure somebody. He is simply doing his job protecting the flock and needs to learn that I’m not a threat. I’m not sure that’ll ever happen but I hold out hope someday it will.

This morning he ignored me. It's so bizarre. He never flew at me, just acted like he'd like to spur but never connected. My entire crew is 6-9 months. He was with the younger group but they've all basically grown up together. Noone has any exposure to them but me and my husband but he's never charged him.